Abandon Ship! (1957)

Cast:

Tyrone Power ... Alec Holmes (Crescent Star Executive Officer)
Mai Zetterling ... Nurse Julie White
Lloyd Nolan ... Frank Kelly
Stephen Boyd ... Will McKinley (officer on Crescent Star)
Moira Lister ... Edith Middleton
James Hayter ... 'Cookie' Morrow
Marie Lohr ... Dorothy Knudson
Finlay Currie ... Mr. Wheaton
John Stratton ... Jimmy 'Sparks' Clary
Victor Maddern ... Willy Hawkins
Eddie Byrne ... Michael Faroni
Noel Willman ... Aubrey Clark
Moultrie Kelsall ... Daniel Cane
Robert Harris ... Arthur J. Middleton
Gordon Jackson ... John Merritt

Crew:

Director... Richard Sale

Produced by...

Ted Richmond .... executive producer
John R. Sloan .... producer
Tyrone Power .... producer (uncredited)

Original Music... Arthur Bliss

Cinematography...Wilkie Cooper

Film Editing...Raymond Poulton

Casting.... Paul Sheridan

Production Design...Wilfred Shingleton

Art Direction...Ray Simm (as Raymond Sim)

Makeup Department
Joan Smallwood .... hair stylist
Neville Smallwood .... makeup artist

Production Management
R.L.M. Davidson .... production manager
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

David Eady .... second unit director
Basil Keys .... assistant director

Art Department
Basil Mannin .... scenic artist

Sound Department
John Cox .... sound supervisor
Red Law .... sound recordist
Winston Ryder .... sound editor
Bill Salter .... sound recordist (as W.S. Salter)

Special Effects ...Wally Veevers

Camera and Electrical Department

Eric Gray .... still photographer
Ronnie Taylor .... camera operator
Maurice Gillett .... supervising electrician (uncredited)
Skeets Kelly .... camera operator: second unit (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Valerie Leslie .... assembly cutter

Music Department
Muir Mathieson .... conductor

Plot:

Based on a true story, the luxury cruise liner the SS Crescent Star strikes a discarded land mine in the South Atlantic and sinks in the ensuing explosion. Of the ship's 1,156 passengers, few survive. Among them is Executive Officer Alec Holmes (Tyrone Power), who clings to the flotsam of the ruined vessel. There are others clinging to the wreckage. Then, Alec sees ship's nurse Julie White (Mai Zetterling ), with whom he is in love, foundering in the water, he swims out to save her. From a lifeboat in the distance, Will McKinley (Stephen Boyd), one of the ship's officers, beckons to Alec and Julie to join them. Alec abandons the survivors on the wreckage and swims toward Julie. When Alec and Julie get to the boat, Alec realizes that the boat, built to hold nine passengers, is in danger of capsizing. Once Alec is onboard , the ship's fatally injured captain,passes his command and his cherished ring to Alec, admonishing him to "save as many as he can." After Darrow dies, Alec dons the captain's jacket, then orders his body cast over the side. Meanwhile, Frank Kelly (Lloyd Nolan) is critically injured and close to death. He is a friend of Alec's and was also an officer on the ship. Noland's performance is gut wrenching and outstanding.  There are several other crises and all 27 survivors have there own storyline in the movie. To add to the chaos, a shark is circleing the boat. Who will live and who will die? You will have to watch it to find out.

Costumes:

White nautical uniforms, Life Jackets, Wet Clothing,a tux and one formal dress.

Quotes:

Alec: "The Dog Stays, we can not eat human beings."  "We can eat a dog!"

Edith Middleton:  on Alec..... "Now there's a Man!"

Trivia:

Outside the U.S. it was titled Seven Waves Away.


Funny Scene (one you should not miss):

Watch the shark footage!  I thought it was a dolphin.  Also, the entire movie was shot in a tank. In reality, someone would have been the shark's dinner.

Review:

Two survivors are left for dead after Alec leaves the wreckage to swim toward the boat and Julie. There is even a dog floating on the wreckage. The movie does not clear up what happened to them. Did they live or die?  In spite of this, trust me you will enjoy this movie.  I think it was better than Lifeboat.